TLEC challenges federal party leaders to complete TLE claims in 10 years

Spring Update 2015

The Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement

On May 29, 1997, the Manitoba Treaty Land Entitlement (“TLE”) Framework Agreement was signed between Canada, Manitoba and the Treaty Land Entitlement Committee of Manitoba Inc., on behalf of 19 Entitlement First Nations (EFNs), at the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba.

Shortly after the signing of the TLE Framework Agreement, Canada recognized the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation and the Marcel Colomb First Nation as separate First Nations under the Indian Act. As a result, both these First Nations are now eligible to receive additional lands under the TLE Framework Agreement.

The TLE Framework Agreement outlines how the parties have agreed to fulfill the outstanding TLE obligations in Manitoba arising from the Numbered Treaties. It sets out the principles, responsibilities and dispute resolution processes associated with the land selection and acquisition process to be undertaken by the EFNs.

The TLE Framework Agreement provides for up to a total of 1,100,626 acres of land and $76 million towards the process of selecting and acquiring lands to be set apart as reserve for the EFNs. Of the 1,100,626 acres, 985,949 is the Crown Land Amount to be selected and 114,677 is the acreage amount to be purchased, or acquired.

To date, 15 EFNs have executed their individual Treaty Entitlement Agreements (“TEAs”) under the TLE Framework Agreement and are currently engaged in the land selection and acquisition process.

Treaty Land Entitlement (“TLE”) refers to land owed to certain First Nations under the Numbered Treaties in Manitoba signed by the First Nations and the British Crown between 1871 and 1910. Treaties 1 to 10 provided that the Crown would set aside a certain amount of land as reserve land based on the populations of the “Indian bands” at the time of the original surveys for reserve lands. Not all Indian bands received their land entitlement as promised in the Numbered Treaties and this is what is referred to as “Treaty Land Entitlement”.

Member Entitlement First Nations

Barren Lands First Nation Treaty No. 10

Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Treaty No. 1

Buffalo Point First Nation Treaty No. 3

Bunibonibee Cree Nation Treaty No. 5

*Fox Lake First Nation Treaty No. 5

God’s Lake First Nation Treaty No. 5

Manto Sipi Cree Nation Treaty No. 5

*Marcel Colomb First Nation Treaty No.6

Mathias Colomb Cree Nation Treaty No.6

Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Treaty No.5

Northlands Dene First Nation Treaty No.10

Norway House Cree Nation Treaty No. 5

Opaskwayak Cree Nation Treaty No.5

*O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation Treaty No.5

Rolling River First Nation Treaty No.4

Sapotaweyak Cree Nation Treaty No.4

*Sayisi Dene First Nation Treaty No.5

*Shamattawa First Nation Treaty No.5

War Lake First Nation Treaty No.5

Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation Treaty No.4

*York Factory First Nation Treaty No.5

*To date, these six First Nations have not signed their individual Treaty Entitlement Agreements under the Manitoba TLE Framework Agreement.